A couple of Ithaca businesses not like the others

Penny McCormick, owner of Farmers’ Daughter’s Crafts and Creations, grooms Valentine an eight-month-old Pekingese at her new store location in downtown Ithaca Monday, April 8, 2013. “I’ve moved over here and I’ve had way more foot traffic,” said McCormick. Farmers’ Daughter’s Crafts and Creations offers tanning, dog grooming, consigning and more. (Sun photo by KEN KADWELL/@KenKadwell).

Penny McCormick had all these friends who made things and she wanted to display some of those items for sale as well as continue her dog grooming business.

She also moved uptown to a bigger place at 129 Center Street, the old Rosie’s Diner.

Nearly all of her crafty friends were, like McCormick herself, the daughters of farmers so she decided that might feature in the new name she would choose.

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But first, she put her proposal on Facebook and asked for help in choosing the name.

“I seriously got the public involved,” she said.

The result: A Farmer’s Daughter’s Crafts and Creations.

So in addition to her dog grooming business, McCormick is selling “countryish” items – things made from old barn wood such as signs, benches and shelves.

“I have a gentlemen who does wooden scroll work,” she said. “I have a woman who makes bling purses, sort of westerny blingy. We have random crafts – a big dragonfly to put in your garden (for example).”

She also has doilies, crocheted scarves, and McCormick added some silk flower arrangements that she makes.

And – why not – she added a tanning bed.

It’s sometimes a little confusing for her customers, she said.

One woman walked in and asked, “Is this a flower shop?”

McCormick replied that, “it’s an all around store.”

And she’s not done yet.

She’s seriously considering adding some food and beverages.

Her hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. until noon on Saturdays.

But McCormick’s store isn’t the only new spot in downtown Ithaca.

“10,000 Reasons,” named after a worship song by Matt Redman, opened in February at 127 East Center.

Owned by Nicholas Cox and his family, the store is the place to find, “quality second hand items.”

Furniture, appliances, “a little jewelry and a few antiques” along with new, faith-based T-shirts are what he offers.

“It is, first and foremost, a Christ-centered business,” he said. “We’re filling a niche. In this economy you can’t always afford new, but you can get second hand that’s still nice.”

Looking to expand his T-shirt business, household items are what most folks are after.

But if there is any one thing that his customers demand, is that, “ it must be clean,” he said.

His store is open from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Linda Gittleman may be reached at 989-463-6071, lgittleman@michigannewspapers.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lgittleman.